CRIME ON MY MIND

Reviews, reviews, and what...paid reviews?

This seems to have caught the attention of many writers these past few days, so in case you missed it, have a read. This article appeared in the Globe & Mail earlier this week and it's about paid reviews. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/brand-writer-is-a-brand-not-a-writer/article4508474/

Thought-provoking, isn't it?

What are your thoughts on the subject? Are paid reviews fair play? How can the reader be assured these reviews are accurate and not biased because money has changed hands? You can't. Well, then should these reviews be labeled as such? Like the "Paid Advertisement" page in a newspaper or magazine? I like this idea.

Of course, regardless of the reviews, it all comes down to the individual reader. All tastes are different and while an extremely well-written book might deserve a fabulous review, if few readers find it to their taste, does it matter?

I used to avidly read an arts reviewer in a local newspaper, knowing that if he liked a performance, I wouldn't. And visa versa. I was usually spot on with my assessment of his reviews.

What about the business of cajoling family and friends, particularly those on Facebook or Twitter, to "Like" an author page or vote for your book for some prize or other? This is happening all over the internet these days and my feeling is that readers are becoming jaded. They know that a five-star rating on Amazon could be the result of friends of authors signing in and hitting the "Like" or star icons.

So how will this all end? Will readers, knowing all these efforts in the background, start judging books on a popularity basis -- look at how many stars or likes, therefore this is a well-liked person, so I'll read his/her book? They might. But I think as in all things, if that book doesn't make it to their personal "Best Reads" list, there's little chance they'll read anything else by that author. so, merit will out in the end.

Back to the reviews...I'll be posting one for this weekend. To be up front, I don't review books I have a hard time reading or dislike for whatever reason. And, my opinion is one as a reader, not a literary critic. As such, I don't bad-mouth an author but try to give enough information about the content of the book and its strong points so that other readers can make up their own minds about whether to read it or not. And, I can categorically state...I don't get paid! Hmmmm....

Linda Wiken/Erika Chase

A KILLER READ
Berkley Prime Crime, now available
READ & BURIED, coming Dec., 2012; available for pre-order
www.erikachase.com

CRIME ON MY MIND

Fall!

Ahh, the first day of fall, 2011. It starts later this year but that's ok because it's been such a fabulous summer. I hate to see it go but I also love this new season. Crisp, sunny days...brilliant fall foliage...and then there's the downside. Dragging out the warmer clothes...raking those leaves. Again. And yet again.

Fall is the start of new beginnings. The start of new classes, new projects, new goals for the coming year. Forget New Year's Day & resolutions. I think that fall is the time of year we gear up for many of the changes in our lives.

But with all this enthusiasm, it can also be a time of too little time. If you're on a deadline with your writing -- say, you get a last minute request to re-do a chapter in a yet-to-be-published book, while having to finish the synopsis of the next one -- and do it in less than a week, there can be a time issue at work here.That's because all these other activities that have been on summer break have now started up. It's time to get into a new routine and re-distribute those dwindling daylight hours.

And what about all those appointments? Odd how the doctor, the dentist, the physiotherapist all need to see you within the same week. It's also time to visit the hair stylist!

And of course, Canadian Tire has a sale flyer that's packed with items I've been accumulating on a shopping list. And then, there's grocery shopping -- a necessity, especially when guests are invited for dinner. And how about all those other sale flyers that are jammed into the mid-week newspaper? And, don't forget...Christmas is coming. You can never start in too early tracking down those special gifts.

Time to do some transplanting in the garden, also. And the lawn needs mowing. The car needs washing. What -- it that cat fur dust balls in all the corners of the living room -- yikes! Remember, guests are coming.

What is it I do with my hours? I write while at choir when the other sections are going over their lines. I read while sitting in waiting rooms. I make lists of when to tackle outside chores. I vacuum while waiting for the food on the BBQ.

I try really hard to make time for my friends because getting together for a laugh is the best way to stay grounded and sane. How about a walk in the Gatineaus? It is fall, after all. The time is right!


Linda Wiken/Erika Chase
A Killer Read coming April, 2012
from Berkley Prime Crime